Originally Posted by
deroche117
I don't expect terminal performance to make up for poor shot placement. But given the hits were relatively close to vitals, I guess I had expected SOME form of trail to help me recover these animals. Although the longer of my three shots may have been a lucky break for me, it got me wondering whether these bullets fared better at longer distances than at shorter ranges. I took the long shot because I was confident in the bullets accuracy having practiced with it at these distances. What worries me is what happens to this bullet AFTER it hits the deer. That was my point. Maybe I've been spoiled by my 12 gauge sabots. They seem pretty good at dropping 'em even on marginal hits. *
As mentioned above, nothing beats proper shot placement, a shot in the vitals will always kill a deer. I use 240gr XTP Mags, they do fragment at times when I hit a rib or shoulder and cause more damage than I would like. The fragements sometime hit the paunch on a lung shot when they hit a rib, also the liver ect. But no bullet will do further damage when it goes through the paunch, there's nothing there to fragment the bullet when it hit, just soft tissue.
As far as Shotgun Saboted bullets, IMO they are some of the worst.(certain brands)They blow through the animal with a small hole and cause little damage, that's why I gave up the shotgun as the ML does way more damage. Now in a smooth bore shotgun, the Foster Type Winchester Slugs will do some damage, there not great at long distances but 100yds and under there deadly, especially when they hit bone and fragment.
(BP)